What happened in optometry this week: June 10 - June 14
Catch up on what happened in optometry during the week of June 10-June 14.
Catch up with what Optometry Times shared this week:
Bausch + Lomb launches new INFUSE for Astigmatism contact lenses in the US
By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor
Bausch + Lomb has officially introduced its INFUSE for Astigmatism daily disposable contact lenses. The company is expecting to start shipping the lenses to eye care professionals in July 2024, according to a news release.
More than a flag: Improving LGBTQ patient care through education, training, and access
By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor
An unassuming LGBTQ+ pride flag in the front desk window of an eye care practice in Battle Creek, Michigan, doesn’t get a lot of attention. But when patients notice, it tends to make a world of a difference, according to Matthew Johnson, OD.
He recalls an appointment booked with him by a same-sex couple who took to the small nods of inclusivity around the practice and in his office, including his pronouns and a rainbow emblem on his name tag. To them, it made all the difference in easing the stress that a medical appointment can bring for those in the LGBTQ community, Johnson said.
Melatonin has potential to reduce risk of age-related macular degeneration
By David Hutton, Managing Editor, Ophthalmology Times
A team of researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Cole Eye Institute have found that melatonin, an over-the-counter supplement to help people sleep, may also reduce the risks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The researchers examined data of more than 200,000 people, some at an early stage of the disease and some without age-related eyesight issues. Their research was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.1
Zenni Optical now offering contact lenses
By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor
Zenni Optical has announced its expansion into the world of contact lenses. According to a news release, the online eyewear retailer will begin offering contact lenses from manufacturers CooperVision and Bausch + Lomb, with more brands on the way.1
"We are incredibly proud of the legacy Zenni has built in providing affordable eye care to individuals around the world,” said David Ting, global chief technology officer and general manager at Zenni Optical, in the release.
UK study reinforces optometrists’ competency in delivering SLT
By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor
A recent UK study evaluating the need for standardized laser training courses for non-medical professionals outside of ophthalmic practitioners found that optometrists were successfully able to take on additional workload by delivering laser treatments, including selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). The study followed an education and training program on the delivery of lasers, including selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London’s Institute of Ophthalmology.1
